The Gol Gumbaz or Mausoleum of Muhammad Adilshah II (1627 – 57) is the largest and most conspicuous building in Bijapur and one of the most celebrated in India. Built in 1657 by Yaqut, a master builder of Dabul, it is a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. Situated on a 183 m square podium, the tomb resembles a giant cube crowned by a hemispherical dome with a seven storye octagonal tower at each of its four corners, capped by smaller domes. The great dome is the second largest in the world, 37.9m in diameter, compared with 42.4m at St Peter’s in Rome, and 32.9m at St Paul’s, London. The space it encloses is the largest in the world covered by a single dome. The facades have a large central arch, above which is a cornice of grey basalt and row of small arches carrying a second line of plain work crowned by a 1.8m high balustrade. The corner towers are entered from winding staircases in the walls of the main area. Each storey has seven arched window. Whispering gallery at the sixth storey is a broad gallery around the dome, which has remarkable acoustic properties, i.e., a ten-fold echo can be obtained. From the base of the dome, there is a fine aerial view of the city. Over the south doorway, there are three inscriptions giving the date of Muhamad Adilshah’s death on 1657. Below the dome, in the centre of the chamber, is the tomb of Muhammad. To the east are the graves of his youngest wife and his son Ali Adilshah II; on the west are those of his favourite dancing girl called Rambha, his daughter and eldest wife. A small annex to the north side was intended as a resting – place for his mother, but it is a later, unfinished addition. To the west is a well proportioned mosque of considerable elegance. On the south side is the Naqqur Khana.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

Dharwad Circle

The Gol Gumbaz

Verified Listing

The Gol Gumbaz

Login